The Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan & Barry Buzan

The Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan & Barry Buzan

Firnando Chau Review


The Contents of the book are:-

Acknowledgments
Appreciation
About the Authors
Foreword
Introduction – The Mind Map Book and How to Use It
Division One: Natural Architecture
Chapter 1: The Amazing Brain
Chapter 2: The Great Brains
Chapter 3: Brains in Quandary
Chapter 4: Radiant Thinking
Chapter 5: The Way Ahead
Division Two: Foundations
Chapter 6: Brainstorming Words
Chapter 7: Brainstorming Images
Chapter 8: From Brainstorming to Mind Mapping
Chapter 9: Mind Mapping
Division Three: Structure
Chapter 10: The Guiding Principles
Chapter 11: Developing a Personal Style
Division Four: Synthesis
Chapter 12: Making Choices
Chapter 13: Organising Your Own Ideas
Chapter 14: Organising Other People’s Ideas
Chapter 15: Memory
Chapter 16: Creative Thinking
Chapter 17: The Group Mind Map
Division Five: Uses
Personal:
Chapter 18: Self Analysis
Chapter19: Problem-Solving
Chapter 20: The Mind Map Diary
Family:
Chapter 21: Family Study and Story-Telling
Educational:
Chapter 22: Thinking
Chapter 23: Teaching
Chapter 24: Creating the Master Mind Map
Business and Professional:
Chapter 25: Meetings
Chapter 26: Presentations
Chapter 27: Management
Chapter 28: Computer Mind Mapping
The Future:
Chapter 29: Towards a Radiant Thinking and Mentally Literate World
Division Six: Addenda
Notes by the Great Brains Quiz
Answers to Great Brains Quiz
Also By Tony Buzan
Bibliography
Index

--Start--

Acknowledgments

Appreciation

About the Authors

Foreword

Introduction – The Mind Map Book and How to Use It

Preview

Purposes of The Mind Map Book

5 main purposes:-

1. To introduce Radiant Thinking

2. To introduce The Mind Map

3. Give profound intellectual freedom (control the nature and development of the thinking processes and ability to think creatively is theoretically infinite)

4. Give practical experience of Radiant Thinking

5. To explore this new universe

Organisation of Divisions

1. Natural Architecture

2. Foundations

3. Structure

4. Synthesis

5. Uses

i) Personal

ii) Family

iii) Educational

iv) Business and Professional

v) The Future

6. Addenda

6.1 Notes by the Great Brains Quiz

6.2 Brain Foundation Information

6.3 Bibliography

Organisation of Chapters

1. Chapter Design

2. Boxed Text

3 Research

Doing the Exercises

Levels of Mind Map Knowledge

1. Beginners

2. Intermediate Students

3. Advanced Students

Feedback

1. Stories

2. Research

3. Additions

4. Great Brains’ Notes

5. Exercises/Games

6. Mind Maps

7. Bibliography

The Mind Map Book and You

Division One: Natural Architecture

1. What are the component parts of our brains?

2. How do we process information?

3. What are the brain’s main functions?

4. How are the skill centres distributed through the brain?

5. How do we learn and what do we recall most easily?

6. Is the human brain fundamentally a pattern-making and pattern-seeking device?

7. What are the techniques used by those extraordinary yet normal people who have been able to remember so much more than their peers?

8. Why are so many people in despair over the capacity and functions of their brains?

9. What is the natural and appropriate way to think?

10. What is the natural and appropriate expression of human thought?

Chapter 1: The Amazing Brain

1.1. Modern Brain Research

i. The Brain Cell

ii. The Brain’s Cerebral Hemispheres

Language

Number

Logic

Rhythm

Colour

Imagery

Spatial Awareness

1.2. The psychology of Learning – Remembering

1.3. Gestalt – Wholeness

1.4. The Brain as a Radiant Thinking Association Machine

1.5. The Development of the History of Human Intelligence

Chapter 2: The Great Brains

2.1. The Great Brains

2.2. Using the Full Range of Mental Skills

Chapter 3: Brains in Quandary

3.1. Standard Linear Notes

3.2. The Major Styles of Standard Note Making/Taking

3.3. The Tools Used for Standard Note-Making/Taking

3.4. The Disadvantages of Standard Notes

3.5. The Consequences for Our Brains

3.6. The results of Research on Note-Making/Taking

Chapter 4: Radiant Thinking

4.1. Information – Your Brain’s Processing System

Chapter 5: The Way Ahead

5.1. The Mind Map – a Definition

Division Two: Foundations

Chapters 6 to 9 investigate the twin worlds of words and images, showing how you can unleash extraordinary mental energy through the use of powerful brainstorming and association techniques.  These chapters take you from the basic Radiant Thinking brainstorming, through Mini-Mind Map Brainstorming, to the Mind Map Itself.

Chapter 6: Brainstorming Words

6.1. Mini-Mind Map Word Exercise

6.2. Implications

6.3. Applications

Chapter 7: Brainstorming Images

7.1. The Power of Images

7.2. Mini-Mind Map Image Exercise

Chapter 8: From Brainstorming to Mind Mapping

8.1. Expanding Your Powers of Association

8.2. Exercise

Chapter 9: Mind Mapping

9.1. Harnessing the Full Range of Your Cortical Skills

9.2. Introduction to Hierarchies and Categories

9.3. Journey through the Mind of a Mind Mapper, Part 1

9.4. Implications

9.5. Journey through the Mind of a Mind Mapper, Part 2

9.6. More about Hierarchies and Categories

9.7. Advantages of Hierarchy, Categorisation and BOIs

9.8. Advantages of Mind Mapping over Linear Note-Making/Taking

Division Three: Structure

Division 3 introduces all the Mind Map laws and recommendations.  These guidelines will lead you towards being able to increase massively your mental precision, creativity, power and freedom.  Once you have understood and absorbed the basic Mind Map laws, you will be able to develop more rapidly your personal Mind Mapping Style.

Chapter 10: The Guiding Principles

10.1. A Martina View of Human Intelligence

10.2. The Three “A”s of Mind Mapping

10.3. The Mind Map Laws and Recommendations 

10.4. Summary of the Mind Map Laws

10.5. Rationale of the Mind Map Laws

10.6. Summary of the Mind Map Recommendations

10.7. Rationale of the Mind Map Recommendations

10.8. Four Danger Areas

Chapter 11: Developing a Personal Style

11.1. The Art of Mind Mapping

11.2. Examples of Mind Map Art

11.3. Benefits of Creating Artistic Mind Maps

Division Four: Synthesis

Chapter 12 to 17 explore the many distinct tasks which can be successfully accomplished using Mind Maps.  These tasks include the following main areas of intellectual activity: Making choices; Organizing you r own and other people’s ideas; creative thinking and brainstorming; and creating a group mind or Meta-mind.

Chapter 12: Making Choices

12.1. General Decision-Making

12.2. Simple Decision-Making

12.3. Journey through the Mind of a Mind Mapper, Part 3

12.4. Making the Choice

12.5. Dealing with Indecision

12.6. Decision-Making Exercises

12.7. Benefits of Dyadic Mind Maps

Chapter 13: Organising Your Own Ideas

13.1. Note Making

13.2. Complex Mind Mapping

13.3. Journey through the Mind of a Mind Mapper, Part 4

13.4. Thought-Building Exercises

13.5. Benefits of Polycategoric Mind Maps

Chapter 14: Organising Other People’s Ideas

14.1. Note-Taking

14.2. The Four Main Functions of Notes

14.3. Establishing a Productive “Mental Set” for Note-Taking

14.4. A Practical Example of Polycategoric Mind Mapping

14.5. Benefits of Polycategoric Mind Maps for Note-Taking

Chapter 15: Memory
15.1. A Greek Myth
15.2. The Mind Map as a Multi-Dimensional Memory Device
15.3. The Mnemonic Mind Map as a Mirror of Creativity
15.4. Applications of Mnemonic Mind Maps
15.5. Benefits of Mnemonic Mind Maps


Chapter 16: Creative Thinking
16.1. Aims of Creative Mind Mapping
16.2. The Mind Map as a Creative Thinking Mechanism
16.3. The Stages of the Creative Thinking Process
16.4. Mind Mapping to Gain New Paradigms
16.5. Benefits of Creative Thinking Mind Maps


Chapter 17: The Group Mind Map
17.1. Functions of Group Mind Mapping
17.2. Creating a Group Mind
17.3. Group Mind Mapping Applications
17.4. Examples of Group Mind Maps in Action
17.5. The Dyadic Group Mind
17.6. Benefits of Group Mind Mapping


Division Five: Uses
Personal:
Chapter 18: Self Analysis
18.1. Self-Analysis Using Mind Maps
18.2. Reviewing the Past and Projecting Future Goals
18.3. Helping Others to Analyse Themselves
18.4. Examples of Self-Analysis Mind Maps
18.5. Benefits of Self-Analysis Mind Maps


Chapter19: Problem-Solving
19.1. Personal Problem-Solving Using Mind Maps
19.2. Interpersonal Problem-Solving Using Mind Maps
19.3. The Stages of Interpersonal Problem-Solving
19.4. Benefits of Interpersonal Problem-Solving Mind Maps


Chapter 20: The Mind Map Diary
20.1. The Principles of the Mind Map Diary
20.2. The Yearly Plan
20.3. The Monthly Plan
20.4. The Daily Plan
20.5. The Life-Planning Divisions
20.6. Benefits of the Mind Map Diary


Family:
Chapter 21: Family Study and Story-Telling
21.1. Mind Map Story-Telling
21.2. Group Mind Map Family Study
21.3. The Family Mind Mapping Study Day
21.4. Benefits of Family Mind Mapping
21.5. Family Mind Mapping in Practice


Educational:
Chapter 22: Thinking
22.1. Mind Mapping for Essays
22.2. Mind Mapping for Examinations
22.3. Mind Mapping for Projects and Reports
22.4. Examples of Mind Map Projects
22.5. Benefits of Mind Maps for Presentation and Writing Tasks


Chapter 23: Teaching
23.1. The Developing brain
23.2. Applications of Mind Maps in Teaching
23.3. Special Education
23.4. Benefits of Teaching with Mind Maps


Chapter 24: Creating the Master Mind Map
24.1. Mind Mapping a Book
24.2. Mind Mapping from Lectures/Videos/Computers/Films
24.3. Reviewing Your Mind Map Notes
24.4. Creating a Master Mind Map
24.5. Benefits of Mind Map Notes and the Master Mind Map


Business and Professional:
Chapter 25: Meetings
25.1. Mind Mapping as Individuals
25.2. Mind Mapping as a Group
25.3. Chairing a Meeting with a Mind Map
25.4. Benefits of Mind Maps for Meetings


Chapter 26: Presentations
26.1. Using Mind Maps to Prepare a Presentation
26.2. Mind Mapping Versus Linear Preparation
26.3. Giving a Mind Mapped Presentation
26.4. Example of a Mind Mapped Presentations
26.5. Benefits of Mind Maps for Presentations


Chapter 27: Management
27.1. Using Mind Maps for Management
27.2. Examples of Management Mind Maps
27.3. Benefits of Mind Maps for Management


Chapter 28: Computer Mind Mapping
28.1. Foreword
28.2. Creating and editing a Computer Mind Map
28.3. Managing Complexity
28.4. Sharing
28.5. Adding Intelligence
28.6. Transferring Knowledge
28.7. Transformations – Looking at things differently
28.8. Team Working
28.9. Delivering Results
28.10. The Future of Computer Mind Maps
28.11. Onword


The Future:
Chapter 29: Towards a Radiant Thinking and Mentally Literate World
29.1. The Intelligence Revolution
29.2. Mental Literacy
29.3. Radiant Thinking – Radiant Future


Division Six: Addenda
Notes by the Great Brains Quiz
Answers to Great Brains Quiz
Also By Tony Buzan
Bibliography
Index

--End-- 

Carolyn 101: Business Lessons from The Apprentice's Straight Shooter by Carolyn Kepcher, Donald J. Trump, and Stephen Fenichell

 Carolyn 101 by Carolyn/ Fenichell, Stephen Kepcher (Hardcover - Oct 30, 2004)

Amazon.com Review

Smart, direct, precise. These are adjectives viewers of NBC's hit reality show, The Apprentice might use to describe Donald Trump's left-hand woman, Carolyn Kepcher. Kepcher is a tough judge who can make or break hopeful contestants vying to get hired by Trump. In Carolyn 101, readers find a respected business executive and familial leading lady. Kepcher's personal stories draw an entertaining and inspiring picture of a scrappy, former waitress and restaurant manager, with a no-holds-barred approach to getting hired and succeeding in a mostly male-dominated environment in New Jersey--and, eventually, in The Trump Organization.In Carolyn 101, Kepcher describes how she successfully synthesized her learned-on-the-job business acumen and motherhood duties to become a respected leader in the Trump empire. Plus, readers will love the snippets Kepcher shows of her famous boss, including his empathy to her personal life and foresight in choosing Kepcher for a management role at the age of 25: "I was twenty-five, a woman, and had never run a golf club in my life. But since Donald Trump trusted that I could handle it, I trusted myself to handle it."
It's clear from Carolyn 101 that Kepcher is a renaissance woman through and through. She balances the demands of the show, her job, and home-life, making her success that much more impressive. Those joining the workforce or already in the trenches will appreciate the firm advice she offers through personal stories and short blurbs dotting the pages, like this gem: "When someone hands you an opportunity, don't be afraid to take it." Case in point: Carolyn Kepcher, EVP and COO, The Trump Organization. --E. Brooke Gilbert --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

People familiar with Kepcher's stern demeanor and grim expressions on Trump's reality TV show will be pleasantly surprised by her sense of humor and her solid career advice. There are plenty of "the Donald" stories, but Kepcher's focuses on practical workplace strategies, from behaving and dressing appropriately in everyday situations to managing difficult bosses, handling office romances, firing employees and more. Kepcher serves up information confidently and unpretentiously, drawing on her own experiences, such as her travails with a nightmare boss when she first joined Trump's empire. These anecdotes yield aphorisms ("If your boss is a bully, you're probably stronger than he is"), which in turn add up to the curriculum–like title. Although some of Kepcher's comments about women using their appearances to get ahead may rankle, her suggestions on interview and résumé protocol, and on asking for a raise, ring true. Following Bill Rancic's You're Hired, this second book to emerge from The Apprentice this season manages to do what it needs to do.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"On all levels, Carolyn is an incredible woman. She has a great story to be told that will be inspiring to women and men."-- Donald Trump


"People familiar with Kepcher's stern demeanor and grim expressions on Trump's reality TV show will be pleasantly surprised by her sense of humor and her solid career advice."
-- Publishers Weekly
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

Known to the millions of viewers of the hit reality television show The Apprentice, Carolyn Kepcher attracted enormous media attention for her cool demeanor and her no-holds-barred assessments of the show's candidates in the boardroom each week. In Carolyn 101, the woman Donald Trump has described as a "killer" businesswoman reveals the secrets of her success.Geared toward those just entering the workforce or seasoned employees looking to distinguish themselves, Kepcher's book provides readers with guidance for their professional lives. Illustrating her advice with examples taken from her own career, she shows them how to:

• ace an interview
• deal with a difficult boss
• maintain a healthy balance between work and home life
• spot potential business opportunities
• be a strong team member or team leader

Straightforward and inspirational, Carolyn 101 shows ambitious professionals what they need to do to get ahead and take their own careers even further than they had imagined.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Carolyn Kepcher is an Executive Vice President with The Trump Organization and the COO of Trump National Golf Clubs in New York and New Jersey. She has worked for The Trump Organization for nearly ten years and costars with her boss, Donald Trump, on the hit reality television series The Apprentice. She lives with her husband and two children in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Stephen Fenichell is the author of Plastic: The Making of a Synthetic Century and Other People's Money, as well as the coauthor of Passport to Profits with Mark Mobius and A New Brand World with Scott Bedbury. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Brian Mayne's Goal Mapping: The Practical Workbook

Goal Mapping: The Practical Workbook, How to Turn Your Dreams into Realities by Brian Mayne

Firnando Chau Review

Suharto: The Life and Legacy of Indonesia's Second President by Retnowati Abdulgani-KNAPP

Suharto: The Life and Legacy of Indonesia's Second President by Retnowati Abdulgani-KNAPP



About the Book:-
Hardcover, 376 Pages
Marshall Cavendish, 2007 
ISBN 9812613404, 9789812613400


Firnando Chau Review


Table of Contents:-
Authors Note
1 Distant Dreams in Kemusuk
2 Building the Nation
Photo Section
3 Sailing Into the Sunset
4 The Foundations
5 Reflections
Timeline
Abbreviations
References
Index
---


Synopsis (2007)


This book offers a unique perspective on the human side of the former president of Indonesia. Written while in close personal and professional contact with the president and his family, it is a rare glimpse of how Soeharto's faith in himself and in his country remained unshaken through is meteoric rise and dramatic fall from power.

How to Become a Rainmaker: The Rules For Getting and Keeping Customers and Clients by Jeffrey J Fox

How to Become a Rainmaker: The Rules For Getting and Keeping Customers and Clients by Jeffrey J Fox

My version of the book is

About the Book:-
* Hardcover: 192 pages
* Publisher: Hyperion (May 17, 2000)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0786865954
* ISBN-13: 978-0786865956

Firnando Chau Review

The content of this book is categorised as follow:-
Acknowledgement
Introduction
I The Rainmaker's Cred
II Always Answer the Question, "Why Should This Customer Do Business With Us?"
III Obey Marketing's First Commandment
IV Customers Don't Care About You
V  Always Precall Plan Every Sales Call
VI Fish Where the Big Fish Are
VII Show Them the Money!
VIII Earthquakes Don't Count
IX Killer Sales Question #1
X Always Take the Best Seat in a Restaurant
XI Don't Drink Coffee on a Sales Call
XII You're Not at Lunch to Eat Lunch
XIII Never Wear a Pen in Your Shirt Pocket
XIV Killer Sales Question #2
XV Rainmakers Turn Customer Objections into Customer Objectives
XVI Always Make a "Mid-Job, Next-Job" Recommendation
XVII Treat Everybody You Meet as a Potential Client
XVIII Heed the Biggest Buy Signal
XIX Killer Sales Question #3
XX Always Return Every Call Every Day
XXI Learn the "Miles Per Gallon" of Selling
XXII Beware the Myth of Time and Territory Management
XXIII Always Taste the Wine Before a Wine Tasting
XXIV Dare to Be Dumb
XXV Always Do an Investment Return Analsyis
XXVI Never Forget: Everybody is Somebody's Somebody
XXVII Always Be on "High Receive"
XXVIII "Onionize"
XXIX If You Don't Care About the Answer, Don't Ask the Question
XXX Never Be in a Meeting
XXXI Present for Show, Close for Dough
XXXII Advice to a Baby-Sitter
XXXIII Killer Sales Question #4
XXXIV Give and Get
XXXV Sell on Friday Afternoons
XXXVI "Break the Ice" at the End of the Sales Call
XXXVII Use the Point System Every Day
XXXVIII A Shot on Goal Is Never a Bad Play
XXXIX Don't Make Cold Calls
XL Show the Chain, Sell the First Link
XLI Don't Talk with Food in Your Mouth
XLII Killer Sales Question #5
XLIII Love Voice Mail
XLIV Park in the Back
XLV Be the Best-Dressed Person You Will Meet Today
XLVI Why Breakfast Meetings Bring Rain
XLVII "Her's My Card..."
XLVIII Killer Sales Question #6
XLIX Ten Things to do Today to Get Business
L How to Recognize a Rainmaker
The Rainmaker Extra: How to Dollarize
A Case Study: Mr. K.
Epilogue

--

Amazon.com Review


About the Book

Filled with smart tips given in the Fox signature style, counter- intuitive, controversial, and practiced, this hard-hitting collection of sales advice shows readers how to woo, pursue, and finally win any customer. In witty, succinct chapters, Fox offers surprising, daring, and totally practical wisdom that will help readers rise above the competition in any company in any field. A terrific resource for CEOs, as well as anyone looking to distinguish themselves in salesbe it books, cars, or real estateHow to Become a Rainmaker offers the opportunity to rise above the competition in any company, in any field.

From Booklist Review

This is an afternoon read, pure and simple. And chances are good that once readers accept Fox's hard-hitting yet commonsense approaches, they'll accept his sales process, which applies, by the way, to selling widgets, promoting intangible services, or selling yourself. Every one of the author's 50 two-page to four-page chapters contains just one nugget of information more than the preceding section, enough to keep the momentum and the attention. A sad story about the hazards of drinking coffee (it spilled--and the prospect was then distracted by a second crisis) is followed by a notice not to eat a major meal during a sales lunch, which is promptly followed by "no pen in the shirt pocket" advice. Fox's seemingly disparate hints and tips, in short, comprise a very logical and memorable way of rainmaking, and a short tome that will show anyone the how-tos. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
 
"the best book on selling I've seen. Period." -- Gerald Sindell, President, Publishing Consulting Services.

About the Author

Jeffrey Fox founded Fox & Company, Inc., a marketing consulting firm, in 1982. Client engagements include marketing strategy, innovation enhancement, selling skills training, branding, and various applications of a proprietary methodology called “dollarization.” Prior to starting Fox & Co. Jeffrey was Vice-President, Marketing and a Corporate Vice President of Loctite Corporation. He was also Director of Marketing for the wine division of The Pillsbury Co., and held various senior level marketing jobs at Heublein, Inc., including Director of New Products. Jeffrey is the winner of "Sales & Marketing Management" magazine’s Outstanding Marketer Award; winner of the American Marketing Association’s Outstanding Marketer in Connecticut; and the National Industrial Distributors award as the Nation’s Best Industrial Marketer. 

He is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study that is rated one of the top 100 case studies and is thought to be the most widely taught marketing case in the world. Jeffrey graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He served as Trustee of Trinity College, and has won several alumni awards including Person of the Year. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Saint Francis Hospital, one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals. Jeff is the author of How to Become CEO, which was on the NY Times, Business Week, Wall Street Journal, Knight-Ridder, Amazon.com, and German best seller lists. The book is published in twenty-five languages and in all the major countries of Western Europe, Asia, and South America. Jeff’s second book, How To Become A Rainmaker was also a BusinessWeek and Wall Street Journal best seller, and is being published worldwide. His third book Don’t Send A Resume, published in May of 2001, is a contrarian approach to marketing onese

The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins

• Perfect Paperback: 470 pages (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0593061748
• ISBN-13: 978-0593061749
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

The book is divided into 13 chapters spanning over 400 pages, and includes an appendix called "The History-Deniers" in the end material.

1. Only a Theory? (Nature of scientific theory and fallibility)
2. Dogs, Cows and Cabbages (Artificial Selection)
3. The Primrose Path to Macro-Evolution
4. Silence and Slow Time (Discusses the Age of the Earth and the Geological Time Scale)
5. Before Our Very Eyes (Examples of Evolution Observed)
6. Missing link? What do you mean, 'Missing'? (the fossil record)
7. Missing persons? Missing no longer (Human Evolution)
8. You did it yourself in nine months (a statement attributed to J. B. S. Haldane; discusses developmental biology)
9. The ark of the continents (biogeography and plate tectonics)
10. The tree of cousinship (the tree of life, homology and analogy)
11. History written all over us (vestigiality and unintelligent design)
12. Arms races and 'evolutionary theodicy' (coevolution and evolutionary arms races)
13. There is grandeur in this view of life (based on the final passage of On the Origin of Species)

From Publishers Weekly

SignatureReviewed by Jonah LehrerRichard Dawkins begins The Greatest Show on Earth with a short history of his writing career. He explains that all of his previous books have naïvely assumed the fact of evolution, which meant that he never got around to laying out the evidence that it [evolution] is true. This shouldn't be too surprising: science is an edifice of tested assumptions, and just as physicists must assume the truth of gravity before moving on to quantum mechanics, so do biologists depend on the reality of evolution. It's the theory that makes every other theory possible.Yet Dawkins also came to realize that a disturbingly large percentage of the American and British public didn't share his enthusiasm for evolution. In fact, they actively abhorred the idea, since it seemed to contradict the Bible and diminish the role of God. So Dawkins decided to write a book for these history-deniers, in which he would dispassionately demonstrate the truth of evolution beyond sane, informed, intelligent doubt.After only a few pages of The Greatest Show on Earth, however, it becomes clear that Dawkins doesn't do dispassionate, and that he's not particularly interested in convincing believers to believe in evolution. He repeatedly compares creationists and Holocaust deniers, which is a peculiar way of reaching out to the other side. Elsewhere, Dawkins calls those who don't subscribe to evolution ignorant, fatuously ignorant and ridiculous. All of which raises the point: who, exactly, is supposed to read this book? Is Dawkins preaching to the choir or trying to convert the uninformed? While The Greatest Show on Earth might fail as a work of persuasive rhetoric—Dawkins is too angry and acerbic to convince his opponents—it succeeds as an encyclopedic summary of evolutionary biology. If Charles Darwin walked into a 21st-century bookstore and wanted to know how his theory had fared, this is the book he should pick up.Dawkins remains a superb translator of complex scientific concepts. It doesn't matter if he's spinning metaphors for the fossil record (like a spy camera in a murder trial) or deftly explaining the method by which scientists measure the genetic difference between distinct species: he has a way of making the drollest details feel like a revelation. Even if one already believes in the survival of the fittest, there is something thrilling about learning that the hoof of a horse is homologous to the fingernail of the human middle finger, or that some dinosaurs had a second brain of ganglion cells in their pelvis, which helped compensate for the tiny brain in their head. As Darwin famously noted, There is grandeur in this view of life. What Dawkins demonstrates is that this view of life isn't just grand: it's also undeniably true. Color illus. (Sept. 29)Jonah Lehrer is the author of How We Decide and Proust Was a Neuroscientist.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine

"Like a detective reconstructing a crime" (San Francisco Chronicle), Dawkins amasses a mountain of evidence in this richly illustrated, enormously readable explanation of the theory of evolution. Though Dawkins may have softened his attitude toward those who can reconcile their religious beliefs with evolution, he still harbors great hostility toward its detractors, equating them to Holocaust deniers—a label that riled the New York Times Book Review. Objecting to Dawkins's abrasive dogmatism, many critics felt that the biologist is at his best when he forgets his opponents and focuses on the science. He is indeed a master of explaining complex scientific ideas to nonscientific readers, and though The Greatest Show on Earth may not be his best book, it is a well-written, captivating review of the science behind the theory.

Review

“Brilliant, detailed, anecdotal and immensely readable . . . Poignant, revealing. Dawkins is canny, funny, and beguiling . . . [He lays] out evidence with such fascinating detail that the book is both scientifically exciting and completely convincing. It's badly needed in this era when the science of evolution is being threatened in our schools.”—San Francisco Chronicle


“Unambiguous, beautifully argued, with prose like quicksilver. Entertaining. Dawkins emerges like a prize-fighter, knocking out of the ring all objections.”
—Nature 

"This is a magnificent book of wonderstanding: Richard Dawkins combines an artist's wonder at the virtuosity of nature with a scientist's understanding of how it comes to be.'' -- Matt Ridley, author of Nature via Nurture

"'There is grandeur in this view of life,' said Darwin, speaking of evolution. There is no one better qualified to convey this grandeur than his worthy successor, Richard Dawkins, who writes with passion, clarity, and wit. This may be his best book yet." -- V. S. Ramachandran

"To call this book a defense of evolution utterly misses the point: The Greatest Show on Earth is a celebration of one of the best ideas humans have ever produced. It is hard not to marvel at Richard Dawkins's luminous telling of the story of evolution and the way that it has shaped our world. In reading Dawkins, one is left awed at the beauty of the theory and humbled by the power of science to understand some of the greatest mysteries of life." -- Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish

"Up until now, Richard Dawkins has said everything interesting that there is to say about evolution -- with one exception. In The Greatest Show on Earth, he fills this gap, brilliantly describing the multifarious and massive evidence for evolution -- evidence that gives the lie to the notion that evolution is 'only a theory.' This important and timely book is a must-read for Darwin Year." -- Jerry Coyne, author of Why Evolution Is True

"This is the book Richard Dawkins needed to write and many need to read -- a comprehensive account of evolution that faces the difficulties and questions his critics have raised. In it he draws on his great ability to write about science in a way that is clear, absorbing, and vivid." -- Lord Harries of Pentregarth (formerly Bishop Richard Harries)

"With characteristic flair and passion, Dawkins has put on a stunning exhibition of the evidence for evolution. In his own words, 'Evolution is a fact...and no unbiased reader will close the book doubting it.'" -- Dr. Alice Roberts, biological anthropologist, author, and broadcaster

"'...he is an awesome thinker, a superb writer whose explanatory skills I envy, who dismisses his opponents with the thoroughness of a top silk'....A beautifully crafted and intelligible rebuttal of creationism and intelligent design." -- The Times

"Dawkins gathers up the weight of evidence into a huge lump and hurls it at us from the highest heights his rhetoric can scale...his grandness of vision still dazzles." -- The Sunday Telegraph

Product Description

In 2008, a Gallup poll showed that 44 percent of Americans believed God had created man in his present form within the last 10,000 years. In a Pew Forum poll in the same year, 42 percent believed that all life on earth has existed in its present form since the beginning of time.
In 1859 Charles Darwin's masterpiece, On the Origin of Species, shook society to its core. Darwin was only too aware of the storm his theory of evolution would provoke. But he surely would have raised an incredulous eyebrow at the controversy still raging a century and a half later. Evolution is accepted as scientific fact by all reputable scientists and indeed theologians, yet millions of people continue to question its veracity. Now the author of the iconic work The God Delusion takes them to task.

The Greatest Show on Earth is a stunning counterattack on advocates of "Intelligent Design," explaining the evidence for evolution while exposing the absurdities of the creationist "argument." Dawkins sifts through rich layers of scientific evidence: from living examples of natural selection to clues in the fossil record; from natural clocks that mark the vast epochs wherein evolution ran its course to the intricacies of developing embryos; from plate tectonics to molecular genetics. Combining these elements and many more, he makes the airtight case that "we find ourselves perched on one tiny twig in the midst of a blossoming and flourishing tree of life and it is no accident, but the direct consequence of evolution by non-random selection."

The Greatest Show on Earth comes at a critical time: systematic opposition to the fact of evolution is menacing as never before. In American schools, and in schools around the world, insidious attempts are made to undermine the status of science in the classroom. Dawkins wields a devastating argument against this ignorance, but his unjaded passion for the natural world turns what might have been a negative argument into a positive offering to the reader: nothing less than a master's vision of life, in all its splendor.

About the Author

Richard Dawkins is a world-renowned evolutionary biologist and author.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and, until recently, held the Charles Simonyi Chair of Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. His first book, The Selfish Gene, was an instant international bestseller, and has become an established classic work of modern evolutionary biology. He is also the author of The Blind Watchmaker, River Out of Eden, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, A Devil's Chaplain, The Ancestor's Tale, and most recently,The God Delusion.

DAVID MCKEAN has illustrated many award winning comics and books, including The Big Fat Duck Cookbook (Heston Blumenthal), What's Welsh For Zen (John Cale), Varjak Paw (SF Said), The Savage and Slog’s Dad (David Almond), Arkham Asylum (Grant Morrison), The Homecoming (Ray Bradbury), Wizard and Glass (Stephen King), The Graveyard Book, Wolves in the Walls, Coraline, Mr. Punch, Signal to Noise and Crazy Hair (all by Neil Gaiman).

He has written and illustrated the graphic novel Cages and short story collection Pictures That Tick, and is working on a new novel (Caligaro) and second volume of short stories.
He has designed and illustrated well over a hundred cd covers for artists as diverse as Michael Nyman, Rolling Stones, John Cale, Alice Cooper, Bill Laswell, Bill Buford, Counting Crows, Iain Ballamy, Tori Amos and Frontine Assembly.

He has designed a Broadway Musical (Lestat), creatures for the Harry Potter films, advertising campaigns for Kodak, Nike, Smirnoff, BMWMini and the British Government, and exhibited in Europe, America and Japan.

From AudioFile

All except the woefully informed accept that evolution is a fact, maintains author Richard Dawkins. In scientific language peppered with trivial asides and occasional British slang, he mounts a credible attack on the creationists. Dawkins generates a modern argument for evolution by citing genetic experiments and evidence from the fossil record. He also includes side discussions of supporting subjects such as natural clocks, embryology, and molecular structure. The author and Lalla Ward narrate in relay, taking turns with phrases and paragraphs. The distracting effect of dueling voices strains the continuity in this demanding nonfiction audio. In their praise, the pair's perfect enunciation and appropriate pace allow listeners to readily absorb the abundant facts and figures. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (Nov 3, 2009)

Firnando Chau Review



Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Reissue edition (November 3, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439167346
ISBN-13: 978-1439167342


Amazon.com Review


This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks. --Joan Price --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
From an era when 'self-help' books had genuine depth, Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" has influenced the world. No book in the self-help category matters more than this one.


Learning to relate to people in the ways Carnegie instructs will help you personally as well as professionally.


This book is a classic because Carnegie teaches timeless truths in timeless ways.


About the Book


How to Win Friends and Influence People is the first, and still the finest, book of its kind. One of the best-known motivational books in history, Dale Carnegie's groundbreaking work has sold millions of copies, has been translated into almost every known written language, and has helped countless people succeed in both their business and personal lives.
First published in 1937, Carnegie's advice has remained relevant for generations because he addresses timeless questions about the fine art of getting along with people: How can you make people like you instantly? How can you persuade people to agree with you? How can you speak frankly to people without giving offense? The ability to read others and successfully navigate any social situation is critically important to those who want to get a job, keep a job, or simply expand their social network.


The core principles of this book, originally written as a practical, working handbook on human relations, are proven effective. Carnegie explains the fundamentals of handling people with a positive approach; how to make people like you and want to help you; how to win people to your way of thinking without conflict; and how to be the kind of leader who inspires quality work, increased productivity, and high morale.


As Carnegie explains, the majority of our success in life depends on our ability to communicate and manage personal relationships effectively, whether at home or at work. How to Win Friends and Influence People will help you discover and develop the people skills you need to live well and prosper.


About the Author


Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) described himself as a "simple country boy" from Missouri but was also a pioneer of the self-improvement genre. Since the 1936 publication of his first book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, he has touched millions of readers and his classic works continue to impact lives to this day.